Singapore dodgeball player accuses Association of playing politics and barring him from participating in New York World Cup

A Singapore dodgeball player, Mark Bernaldez, has accused the Dodgeball Association of Singapore committee of playing politics and barring him from participating in the New York World Cup 2018.

The issue between Bernaldez and the committee arose when Bernaldez fell sick and was given half day time off from work to rest at home. Bernaldez could not make it for one training session and claims that the committee insisted that he provide a Medical Certificate to prove that he was really sick.

Writing on Facebook, Bernaldez recounted:

“That’s where I flared and told them off. Hey, we are not your dogs?! We have our own health and work to take care of. And as I’m sure you are all aware, I will always do my best for dodgeball and push myself beyond my limits. Due to my lack of ability to provide proof for a VERBAL conversation (as well as any security restrictions placed due to military obligations), I was doubted and told that I would be marked as absent without valid reason.

“I continued to tell them the ridiculousness of the situation and as a result of this, got kicked out of the group chat.”

Weeks passed and Bernaldez felt that he should apologise for the greater group of his squad. When he extended an olive branch to the committee, he was unceremoniously dropped from the squad.

This came as a big blow to the athlete who has contributed extensively to the local dodgeball community:

“I gave everything I had to build the dodgeball community by using Midget Mafia Dodgers Dodgeball Club (my dodgeball club) to build a link and bridge international countries and dodgeball communities. I was blessed enough, and even given the opportunity to bring clubs from different countries to come to Singapore to play for the biggest International Dodgeball event in Singapore yet! I say again, the BIGGEST International Dodgeball event in Singapore!

“As an organisation priding yourselves as the official representatives of dodgeball in Singapore, a mere dodgeball club has outperformed you in this respect.”

Bernaldez also called the committee out for running the Association in a “purely dictatorial” way and asserted that there has been no growth and progress in the dodgeball community 7-8 years after the Association was formed:

“For the Dodgeball Association Of Singapore, let me remind you, you have yet to be officially recognised by Sports Singapore.

“Looking at the way you run your the committee, it’s not difficult to understand why. It’s purely dictatorial. There’s no democracy! You don’t have clubs under your association, nor is there any voting structure behind your committee!

“7 – 8 years since the creation of your organisation! Not even a league has been organised by DAS! As players and members of individual dodgeball clubs, we had to create one for ourselves! There is no growth nor progress in the dodgeball community.”

Read his full post here:

First of all, I would like to apologise for the post ahead. It is outside of my normal behaviour to post about the politics within dodgeball, but I sincerely feel the need to express my feelings.

As you see in this post, I will not be playing for the upcoming New York World Cup 2018.

After training and working tirelessly with the 2017 APC Singapore Dodgeball Men’s Team, we rightfully secured our position for a slot in the New York World Cup 2018.

Following this, the Dodgeball Association Of Singapore (DAS) committee mentioned that priority for the upcoming New York World Cup would be given to members part of the qualifying APC Men’s team.

Therefore, by now you must be wondering how it came to the point where I will no longer be participating.

Last month, during the holiday season in December 2017, I painstakingly took out the time to commit to dodgeball trainings. I came back to training after being away for 3 weeks as I was on course (military training). For those of you who don’t know, training is every Wednesday night 7pm – 10pm. But on that day itself, I fell sick, and I was unable to make it for training. The committee, demanded a Medical Certificate to prove that I was sick. I didn’t have it, as I was given half day to go back home and rest. Following this, the committee had the nerve to demand me to show the conversation that I had, to prove that I was given half day off.

That’s where I flared and told them off. Hey, we are not your dogs?! We have our own health and work to take care of. And as I’m sure you are all aware, I will always do my best for dodgeball and push myself beyond my limits. Due to my lack of ability to provide proof for a VERBAL conversation (as well as any security restrictions placed due to military obligations), I was doubted and told that I would be marked as absent without valid reason.

I continued to tell them the ridiculousness of the situation and as a result of this, got kicked out of the group chat.

Weeks passed, and I eventually I told myself, if we ever wanted to be the best and achieve the best result for the New York World Cup 2018, it was important that we stuck together and started training together.

I talked to a DAS committee member yesterday night after training, discussed the plans and ideas I had for the Men’s team, as there were a number of original men’s team players that couldn’t make it. Resultantly, I came up with a plan to bring in sponsorship and do fundraising to help all of us be there for the World Cup. But to further continue with the plan, I had to apologise and settle the differences I had with certain DAS committee members.

I thought about it and decided that for the greater good, I would take a step back and apologise. Not just for my sake, but for the men’s team as well.

But despite my attempts to set aside our differences and move on in a cohesive direction, this was the reply.

Therefore, after receiving this message. I hereby announce that I won’t be at the New York World Cup 2018.

For the Dodgeball Association Of Singapore, let me remind you, you have yet to be officially recognised by Sports Singapore.

Looking at the way you run your the committee, it’s not difficult to understand why. It’s purely dictatorial. There’s no democracy! You don’t have clubs under your association, nor is there any voting structure behind your committee!

7 – 8 years since the creation of your organisation! Not even a league has been organised by DAS! As players and members of individual dodgeball clubs, we had to create one for ourselves! There is no growth nor progress in the dodgeball community. These are just among the few of the many issues I want to raise.

I gave everything I had to build the dodgeball community by using Midget Mafia Dodgers Dodgeball Club (my dodgeball club) to build a link and bridge international countries and dodgeball communities. I was blessed enough, and even given the opportunity to bring clubs from different countries to come to Singapore to play for the biggest International Dodgeball event in Singapore yet! I say again, the BIGGEST International Dodgeball event in Singapore!

As an organisation priding yourselves as the official representatives of dodgeball in Singapore, a mere dodgeball club has outperformed you in this respect.

I will just stop here. I think I have said enough. My actions for the past few years have been enough to show what I have done for the dodgeball community with my passion and desire.

To end it off, your committee is currently banning players from playing in tournaments sanctioned under certain organisations and etc. The dodgeball community in Singapore is already so small, and you want to create a further segregation in the community and prevent players from playing and enjoying the game of dodgeball, as opposed to bringing everyone together and concentrating on building and growing the dodgeball community?!

It is my deepest regrets that my continued efforts and commitment have led to this. I sincerely hope for all the best to the teams and players for the upcoming New York World Cup 2018.

Good luck.

‘Neither Gifted Nor Talented. Just Hardwork and Determination.’

First of all, I would like to apologise for the post ahead. It is outside of my normal behaviour to post about the…

By Yasmine YahyaSingapore's economic performance last year was healthy, marked by a better-than-expected expansion and encouraging productivity growth, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.He expressed...